Heat Waves Research and Impacts on Human Health: The Need for Studies in Nigeria: A Review

Agan, Peter Nkashi

doi:10.4172/2157-7617.1000418

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The IPCC (2022) reported that LMICs had limited adaptive capacity to extreme heat due to scarce resources, fragile political institutions, and socio-cultural practices. More research on heat-human health in tropical Africa is needed (Omonijo et al 2013 ; Agan 2017 ; Leal Filho et al 2018 ; Niu et al 2021 ) to identify the requirement for enhancing the resilience of the region to climate change-enhanced extreme heat events. Recent studies indicate that some HICs have observed a decline in the sensitivity of health outcomes to extreme heat, which implies an increase in adaptive capacity to extreme heat (Coates et al 2014 ; Bobb et al 2014 ; Sheridan and Allen 2018 ; Laranjeira et al 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of extreme heat on human health in tropical Africa

Kunda,

Gosling,

Foody

2024

Int J Biometeorol

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This review examines high-quality research evidence that synthesises the effects of extreme heat on human health in tropical Africa. Web of Science (WoS) was used to identify research articles on the effects extreme heat, humidity, Wet-bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), apparent temperature, wind, Heat Index, Humidex, Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), heatwave, high temperature and hot climate on human health, human comfort, heat stress, heat rashes, and heat-related morbidity and mortality. A total of 5, 735 articles were initially identified, which were reduced to 100 based on a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. The review discovered that temperatures up to 60°C have been recorded in the region and that extreme heat has many adverse effects on human health, such as worsening mental health in low-income adults, increasing the likelihood of miscarriage, and adverse effects on well-being and safety, psychological behaviour, efficiency, and social comfort of outdoor workers who spend long hours performing manual labour. Extreme heat raises the risk of death from heat-related disease, necessitating preventative measures such as adaptation methods to mitigate the adverse effects on vulnerable populations during hot weather. This study highlights the social inequalities in heat exposure and adverse health outcomes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of extreme heat on human health in tropical Africa

Kunda,

Gosling,

Foody

2024

Int J Biometeorol

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“…Climate change adaptation is predominantly discussed and addressed with regard to hazards and shocks such as flooding, while increased heat stress is often overlooked, particularly in its connection between climatic and human settlement conditions. This aspect deserves keen consideration not only to harness "a basis for heat awareness and implementation of a heat warning system" [3] but also for inclusive urban planning policy and practice to turn their climate change resilience agenda also towards these increasing stresses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heat Stress Adaptation within Informal, Low-Income Urban Settlements in Africa

2022

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Climate projections indicate that persistent high temperatures and related heat stress will become a common experience in the future, across Africa. It is, therefore, important to understand challenges that might result from increasing extreme heat conditions, and how humans within urban centres can adapt. In this article, we provide a review that considers the experience of poor urban residents with extreme temperatures and adaptation strategies in relation to low-income, informal urban contexts in Africa. Our analysis is carried out across four focus countries: Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Egypt. Only cursory insights exist in the context of informal settlements. We found that heat stress remains an overlooked topic in comparison to other climate change adaptation needs. Evidence shows that adaptation strategies varied and differed in framing, scale, and applied methods across the contexts. Adaptation strategies dominantly examine a broad variety of alternative building measures and, to a lesser degree, greening/nature-based strategies. It is important to highlight heat stress as a cross-cutting, focal topic in urban research in relation to informal settlements and generally broaden the spectrum. It is worthwhile to pay special attention to strategic actions and research designs that foresee win–win and co-beneficial options for local urban communities.

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“…Heat stress affects mental health, increases susceptibility to food & vector borne diseases, & exacerbates existing cardiovascular health conditions. 1,2 In extreme cases, high temperatures over short and intense or prolonged periods of time can also be fatal. 3,4 With high temperatures lasting months at a time, the elderly and other vulnerable groups including children and pregnant women are most at risks to heat-related health illnesses and premature mortality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deconstructing Heat Stress: Communicating Bottom-Up Heat Stress Resilience for Self-build Housing in Nigeria

KEN-OPURUM,

COHON,

HAMEEN

et al. 2021

Communities

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In Nigeria, heat stress is responsible for significant health complications and loss of lives. Rising temperatures in the country are exacerbated by unbridled anthropogenic activities including deforestation, poor urban planning, and urbanization. Low-income households, single mother led households, and households with the elderly and/or people with disabilities, are especially vulnerable to heat stress because of their limited response to unreliable & failing energy infrastructure in the country. Consequently, to mitigate heat stress, many households heavily utilize gas- powered generators and mechanical cooling systems, which unfortunately contribute to both high energy burden amongst low-income households and increased environmental pollution. Adapting to heat stress is paramount in saving lives and reducing significant costs. It is especially important, as a large part of the populace develop and build their own homes in a widely practiced process called self-building. Fortunately, a systematic approach to literature review of over 40 ethnographic peer reviewed literature determined successful bottom-up heat stress resilience strategies used by households in tropical global south, such as in informal settlements. However, successfully disseminating these findings to self-builders in Nigeria would encounter challenges. Although some of these design solutions are local knowledge in other regions of the global south, they may be unfamiliar to self-builders in Nigeria; thereby, requiring steep learning curves for households–many with limited formal education– to effectively incorporate these bottom-up strategies in their housing. Furthermore, there is a communication barrier due to the multiple languages, nomenclature, and subcultures in the country. To address these challenges, this research study used participatory design through focus groups involving a cross section of Nigerian self-builders, to develop a step-by- step design guide using nontechnical descriptors (visuals, illustrations, jargon) to break down complex and technical architecture and engineering designs. This paper highlights findings from the participatory design sessions which will be evaluated through inductive analysis to determine themes on the ‘best’ design elements for the guidebook, communication” “methods, and effective learning techniques for self-builders in this region. The paper will also provide insight on performing participatory design sessions in countries within the global south, and the methods for promoting stakeholder engagement while navigating different subcultural, socioeconomic, and language boundaries.

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Heat Waves Research and Impacts on Human Health: The Need for Studies in Nigeria: A Review

Cited by 3 publications

References 14 publications

The effects of extreme heat on human health in tropical Africa

The effects of extreme heat on human health in tropical Africa

Heat Stress Adaptation within Informal, Low-Income Urban Settlements in Africa

Deconstructing Heat Stress: Communicating Bottom-Up Heat Stress Resilience for Self-build Housing in Nigeria

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